Help-Seeking for Severe Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents and Young Adults Assigned Female at birth: A Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

Sexual and gender minority adolescents and young adults assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB) report high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Despite adverse health outcomes of IPV, many survivors, particularly SGM-AFAB, do not seek help. This study (1) examined the proportion of SGM-AFAB who reported severe IPV victimization who sought help; (2) elucidated patterns of help-seeking facilitators and barriers; and (3) identified associations between sociodemographic characteristics, IPV victimization types, and minority stressors and latent classes of help-seeking facilitators and barriers. Participants included 193 SGM-AFAB (Mage = 20.6, SD = 3.4; 65.8% non-monosexual; 73.1% cisgender; 72.5% racial/ethnic minority; 16.6% annual household income $20,000 or less). Most participants who experienced severe IPV did not seek help (62.2%). Having a person or provider who was aware of the participant’s abusive relationship was the most common reason for seeking help (50; 68.5%). Minimizing IPV was the most common reason for not seeking help (103; 87.3%). Fewer than 5% of SGM-AFAB who experienced severe IPV and who did not seek help reported SGM-specific help-seeking barriers, including not wanting to contribute to negative perceptions of the LGBTQ community, not disclosing their SGM status, and perceiving a lack of tailored services. Help-seeking facilitators and barriers varied by sociodemographic characteristics. Three classes of help-seeking facilitators and two classes of help-seeking barriers emerged. SGM-AFAB subgroups based on sexual and gender identity, recent coercive control, and identity as IPV victims differed in latent classes. This study’s findings confirm SGM-AFAB IPV survivors’ low likelihood of seeking help. Our results also underscore the importance of continuing to bolster SGM-AFAB survivors’ access to trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and affirming support. Further, multilevel prevention and intervention efforts are needed to reduce minimization of abuse and anticipatory judgment and blame among SGM-AFAB who hold multiple marginalized identities, experience coercive control, and identify as IPV victims.

Disclosure and Help-Seeking Experiences of Sexual and Gender Minority Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…Gender minority participants were also more likely to seek help from therapists or counselors than from friends, and less likely than cisgender women to disclose IPV to friends. Given evidence that interpersonal closeness, confidentiality, and affirmation of their SGM identity are more important factors in IPV disclosure decisions for gender minority than cisgender SGM (Scheer et al, 2022), these findings could reflect the stigma-based difficulties many young gender minorities face in establishing close, affirming friendships (McGuire et al, 2010). It also speaks to the importance of training therapists and counselors, including those in schools and community centers, to provide trans-affirmative IPV support services.…”

“…Most (80%) of participants who disclosed IPV did so to friends, perhaps reflecting the emotionally close friendships of many SGM that can serve as “families of choice” (Green & Mitchell, 2008). Young SGM-AFAB IPV survivors have described choosing disclosure recipients based on emotional closeness, preexisting awareness of the abusive relationship, and expected confidentiality (Scheer et al, 2022); friends may most often meet these criteria. It is notable, however, that over one-third of participants disclosed to family members, suggesting that many view their parents and siblings as potential sources of support for IPV despite the high prevalence of family rejection among SGM youth (Hall, 2018).…”